‘门牌’ (mén pái) literally means ‘door sign’ — ‘门’ (mén) means ‘door’ or ‘gate’, and ‘牌’ (pái) means ‘plaque’, ‘sign’, or ‘board’. Together, they refer to the official house number plate mounted on a building’s exterior, typically displaying the street name and number assigned by local authorities. It serves as a key identifier for mail delivery, emergency services, and navigation.

This term is used almost exclusively in urban and residential contexts across mainland China, Taiwan, and other Mandarin-speaking regions. While ‘门牌号’ (mén pái hào) emphasizes the number itself, ‘门牌’ refers to the physical object or the full address identifier. You’ll see it on apartment buildings, shop fronts, and historic courtyard homes — often made of metal, ceramic, or stone, with standardized fonts and colors depending on the city.